Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-06
Kentucky's Desperate.
CRAIG TOLLIVER'S RECKLESS COURAGE
AND HIS DEEDS.
Capture of Sherif's Posse-The Rowan
County Vendetta and Its Curious Fea--

Capture Of Sheriff's Posse-The Rowan
County Vendetta and Its Curious Fea-
. lures.
by telegraph to the New York Herald.]
LOUISVILLE, KY, June 27.-Craig Tolli-
yer, who met a bloody death in Rowan
county last Wednesday, was the most noted
desperate in Kentucky.
There was good reason for his reputa-
ton, and yet his career was short one.
1t was written in Kentucky's annals in let
tiers of blood. He was type Of the West
ern outlaw rather than the Southern. His
deadly work was done with revolver and
rifle, and he never used or carried knife.
Outwardly he respected the laws. No
torious as were his deeds he managed to
contine them within limits enough debata-
BILE to enable him to go before juries.
backed probably with his friends and ad-
herents, confident of acquittal. He always
professed willingness to stand trial, and
every time he went into court he secured
triumphant discharge.
He died as he lived, and probably as his
fierce, boastfnl spirit wished.
YOUNG, BUT FULL OF EXPERIENCES.
Craig Tolliver was not more than thirty
five years of age, and up to August, 1884,
he was never heard of by the outside world.
Then Floyd Tolliver was killed by John
Martin, and after that came the dark and
bitter contest, already detailed in dispatches
to the Herald, in which SO many lives were
lost and enough blood shed to baptize the
little town of. Morehead in everlasting in
fanny.
At last the feud has ended, for Craig
Tolliver is now sleeping in his Elliott coun-
ty grave.
The dead outlaw was as magnificent a
specimen of physical manhood as could be
found in all Kentucky. Six feet high, and
not an inch or fraction over, he weighed
100 pounds, with not an ounce of surplus
flesh. His frame was large and rawboned,
but he was as active and quick as cat
His hands were very large and powerful,
his fingers long and stout. His face was
frank and open; his eyes were steel gray
and deep sunken under beetling brows; his
nose was of the snub order, the nostrils
wide apart and expanded. The mouth was
wide, the lips thick and sensual; teeth
strong, white and glistening and shutting
; down with snap; the jaw square cut
/ powerful and determined. Reddish hail
curled around well-shaped head and open
massive brow. Sometimes his determined
face was shaved, but latterly he has worn :
, mustache and goatee.
PROUD OF HIS FIGURE.
, Craig dressed in the ordinary rough CARL
of the mountaineer, but rather prided him
self upon the admiration so freely bestowed
upon his magnificent physique.
He was very vain of his feats of strength
: and athletic skill. From boyhood up hi
, was liking bee'' at '1og-rollings, ''house
raisings" and other rustic gatherings of &
festive nature. He boosted that he coulG
out-run, out-jump, and out-lift any man il
8 Morgan, Elliott, or Rowan counties. HI
was fond Of lifting. with handspike and o.
standing and running jumps-in short, O.
any variety Of powerful physical exercise
To his feats of strength and athletic PROV
. ess was attributable large part of his de
voted following.
Although the scene of Craigs bloody ex
ploits was in and around Morehead he wal
: not a native of that place nor of Rowan
county. He was born near West Liberty
in Morgan county, twenty-seven miles from
Morehead, and owned farm there. H.
lived with his father until sixteen years O.
age and then ran away from home. H,
: first went to Illinois, where he worked OF
farm for years, and then went over int
Ohio, where he was subsequently married
Before marrying, however, he enlisted il
the army and went West with his com
mand, where they passed through one o.
4 two Indian campaigns. Craig was yer,
fond of referring to this period, and oftei
] remarked that he wished he had remained
S a soldier.
S RECKLESS AND COURAGEOUS.
From his boyhood up Craig was notet
for his reckless daring, but it was not unit
he came to manhood that he became fire.
s quent violator of the law. 1t was said thai
he used to vary his farming and cattle
: trading with ''moon-shinipg, but he neve
I got into trouble on account of this. He wa
I. engaged in a number of brawls, and wa
several times brought into court for beatins
: Or shooting any one with whom he hap
pened to have trouble. In this way hi
reputation grew until he became regarded
as desperate and dangerous man.
On one occasion the sheriff of Morgan
: county was sent to arrest him for some of
b fence. The officer was timid, and tool
! along posse of sixteen men. They fOun(
Craig at his home and at once placed hin
under arrest. He was not in good humor
! but submitted quietly and waited hi
chance. The posse was heavily armed, bur
when they had arrived at West Liberty
where court was in session, they stopped il
town little off their guard. Tollivel
walked up quietly to one of the men
snatched bis gun out of his hand, and TIE
demon in his nature broke out. Backing
up against the side OF a house, he aimed to
ward the squad with his gun and swore he
would kill the first man who moved. HI
s meant what he said, and the men lait
down their arms at his command. The
daredevil mountaineer then marched the
whole body to the courthouse, where
case was being tried, and turned the posse
over to the judge. He surrendered him
self for trial, but when the case came u,
he was at once acquitted by jury of his
peers and neighbors.
That was four years ago, and it was moi
long before he entered upon his bloody
career. Up to the time the feud began
how ever, though he had been engaged il
many brawl, Tolliver had never taken {
life. It was not long before his hands were
dripping with blood, but popular rumor ha.
exaggerated his crimes, and he has no
committed more than fourth of the score
|, of murders attributed to his vindictiy,
record. No doubt he was implicated more
or less in many others, but his own hanl
did not spill the blood which flowed SO freely
The Herald correspondent was in Rowan
r county in April, 1885, and remained som,
days at Morehead. 1t was just after th,
killing of Deputy Sheriff Bumgardner, anG
for two days there had been fighting il
Morehead, the battle terminating with tn,
B flight of the Martin and Logan faction, leav
, ing Tolliver in possession of the field.
large number of other citizens had left til,
r place and many of the houses were closed
That evening the billiard-room at tn,
9 Cottage Hotel was thronged with a Grove
J. of Tolliverites when two men rode up to tn
door and dismounted Craig Tolliver wa
one of these. He was riding handsom,
: bay horse, while his companion was mount
ed upon a mule. Both had Wincheste
rifles. which they carried in the hotel ant
i set up in a corner while they took supper
: They we're warmly greeted by their friend
| and were very civil to the strangers. Up
on learning your correspondents name b,
expressed great regret that he had becom,
SO notorious, and protested that the trouble
had been forced upon him.
ToLLIYER's VIEW OF HIS OWN POSITION.